Nandyal bypoll: Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu thanks voters; YSRC downplays loss

Reddy defeated his nearest rival, YSR Congress candidate and former minister, Silpa Chandra Mohan Reddy, by a huge margin of 27,466 votes this afternoon. “People have endorsed development agenda, upheld values in public life. Rejected and punished negative politics & disorderliness,” the chief minister tweeted.

Naidu also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi who congratulated Brahmananda Reddy and the TDP over the victory. “We’re happy to see that people of Nandyal have reflected their belief in our model of governance,” the TDP president added.

Meanwhile, YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy said it would be a “mistake” for Naidu to claim victory in Nandyal. “I would accept the people’s verdict but at the same time it is a mistake for Chandrababu Naidu to claim victory. The setback (for YSRC) is temporary and it is not prudent for Naidu to describe it as a victory as ethics, morals and values were thrown to winds and there was no level-playing field,” Jagan told a press conference.

He dared the chief minister to make all 20 MLAs, who defected from the YSRC to the TDP, resign from their posts and face fresh elections. “One can then call it a referendum (on the state government),” the Leader of Opposition remarked.